I may be well off the mark but old countrymen like Drabble are from a different time, the media propaganda against terrier work was at full throttle in his final years and for a man of those years, i'd bet the images and stories he was fed made him think that his countryside was being destroyed from within?
Making excuses, maybe... But I'd always give an old man grace in his final years, especially one who really contributed...
"Look after the young, look after the old and let the other buggers look after themselves", wise words but from who..?
Now lets get back to Burt....
. Smok